- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sun, 17 May 2026 11:56 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Sumit Rastogi jailed 14 years for sexual abuse.
- Abused 61 women at Adelaide massage parlour.
- Pleaded guilty to 97 offences, faces deportation.
An Indian-origin massage therapist has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison in Australia for sexually abusing 61 women at a massage parlour in Adelaide, with a judge describing his actions as "out of control" and “exploitative”.
According to local media reports, 39-year-old Sumit Satish Rastogi pleaded guilty to 97 offences, including aggravated indecent assault and indecent filming, committed between October 2021 and July 2022 while working at a massage business in Glenelg, a suburb in Adelaide.
Rastogi, who moved to Adelaide from Delhi in 2011, was arrested in July 2022. The court heard he was working as an unqualified massage therapist when the offences occurred.
Utter lack of respect: Judge
During sentencing on Friday, South Australia District Court Judge Carmen Matteo said Rastogi had preyed on women who trusted him and were entitled to feel safe during treatment sessions. “You abused their trust and treated them with an utter lack of respect and dignity,” the judge said, noting that his conduct escalated over time.
The court heard that Rastogi’s behaviour became increasingly severe as he gained confidence, including secretly taking invasive images and interfering with victims’ clothing. Judge Matteo said that by mid-2022, his offending had become “out of control” and showed “no signs of restraint” until his arrest.
"Assault occurred during honeymoon"
Several victims told the court they continue to suffer long-term emotional trauma. One woman said the assault occurred during her honeymoon, turning what should have been one of the happiest periods of her life into a painful memory. Others criticised delays in the legal process, saying it prolonged their recovery.
Outside court, survivors urged women to trust their instincts in uncomfortable situations. “If it doesn’t feel right, it means it’s not right,” one victim said, while questioning the sincerity of Rastogi’s apology.
During proceedings, the court was told Rastogi had been diagnosed with voyeuristic disorder, which a psychiatrist said involved sexual arousal from observing unsuspecting women. The judge said the diagnosis may explain the behaviour but did not excuse it.
Likely to be deported after jail term
Rastogi was sentenced to 13 years and 10 months in prison, with a non-parole period of 10 years and 10 months. His sentence was backdated to his arrest in 2022, meaning he could become eligible for parole in 2035. The court also heard he is likely to be deported from Australia after completing his sentence.
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